Dolichousnea longissima
| Methuselah's Beard Lichen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Dolichousnea |
| Species: | D. longissima |
| Binomial name | |
| Dolichousnea longissima (Ach.) Articus | |
Lichen Dolichousnea longissima growing on a conifer in the hills north of Mount St. Helens, showing the leaf-like side-branches and pendent "stems", some of them several metres long
Dolichousnea longissima, Old Man's Beard or Methuselah's Beard Lichen, is a lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was previously known as Usnea longissima.[1]
Distribution
D. longissima is found in boreal forests and coastal woodland in Europe, Asia, and North America.[2]
Description
This lichen is fruticose, with very long stems and short, even side branches. It is considered the longest lichen in the world.[3] The stems are usually 15 to 30 cm in length but are sometimes much longer.[4]
Ecology
The most frequent host of this lichen is spruce trees. It is currently on threatened status.
References
- ↑ Articus, K. (2004) Neuropogon and the phylogeny of Usnea s.l. (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes). Taxon 53(4): 925-934.
- ↑ "Fact Sheet: Usnea longissima in Norway." Nov 08, 1996.http://www.toyen.uio.no/botanisk/bot-mus/lav/factshts/usnelong.htm (accessed Dec 19, 2008).
- ↑ Sharnoff, S.. "'Usnea longissima..'." http://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html (accessed Dec 19, 2008).
- ↑ Walewski, Joe (2007). Lichens of the North Woods. Duluth, MN: Kollath-Stensaas. ISBN 0-9792006-0-1.
Threatened Status
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